No, there is no application fee.

Inventors, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and university researchers are all welcome to enter the challenge!

No, university researchers and research teams are encouraged to apply. 

Yes! You can enter as an individual or team working in academic, research, or commercial start-up setting and have an innovative product or solution.

No, no equity is taken.

The deadline for our 2024 200K Challenge has passed. For updates on our 2025 200K Challenge, sign up for our newsletter.

M2D2 seeks early to mid-stage start-ups in the medical device and biotech spaces. Specific areas of focus can be found here. We encourage those who are developing a product and/or service in the healthcare areas outlined to apply.

M2D2, along with its Challenge sponsors, evaluates all applications based on value, strength, and execution plan. The company strength for each category is evaluated using multiple metrics:

Value – product, customer validation, business model & healthcare economics, competition, IP, market opportunity, and patient benefit

Strength – team strength, development plan, responsiveness/coachable, freedom to operate, regulatory & clinical burden, funding to date, resources needed.

Execution plan – stage of development, evidence, time to market, traction, partnerships & relationships, time to key milestones, upcoming funding Interaction with M2D2 and program sponsors is also used as an evaluation metric.

Yes! M2D2 encourages applications from companies at all stages of fundraising, from friends and family to seed and beyond to apply to the $200K Challenge. Preference is given to companies with transformative potential and those who will benefit the most from working with M2D2 and the Challenge sponsors.

Yes! Ventures involving technologies licensed from universities or research labs are encouraged to apply.

All finalists are offered coaching appointments to meet with subject matter and pitch experts to refine their presentations and be ready for the finalist pitch-off and awards announcement event on March 27th, 2024. Coaching is organized by Mintz and is held online via Webex.

No, but we hope one reason you’re applying is to gain access to the Boston ecosystem. This is a great way to do it!

Yes, the $200K Challenge is a global competition. International applicants are welcomed and are encouraged to apply.

Yes, you should apply again as long as the proposal isn’t identical. The needs of the industry and sponsor interests are constantly evolving and can change from year to year. Any updates that took place over the past year should be highlighted in your application.

The 2024 200K Challenge has passed. Dates for the 2025 Cycle have not yet been determined. To see a draft of last cycles timeline, look below.

• Jan. 2 — Applications Open
• Jan. 17— Virtual Info Session: "All About the Challenge"
• Feb. 11 — Application Deadline
• Feb. 19 — Finalists Announced
• March 27 — Finalist Pitch-Off and Award Announcement in Lowell 

Unfortunately, due to the high number of applications, we cannot provide a written explanation to every applicant who isn’t selected as a finalist. Most times, it is due to not being properly aligned with the call for applications.